Residents of the Gaza border towns are quietly and without fanfare building an alcohol empire, producing a range of alcoholic beverages including whiskey, wine, and tequila. Avi Leitner, an Israeli-American, brought the idea of growing blue agave in the Negev to produce Gaza envelope tequila. The project faced obstacles from the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, but hundreds of thousands of plants are now growing in the Negev. Other alcohol-related projects in the region include growing barley for whiskey production and establishing a winery and vineyard. Despite the challenges, residents are optimistic about the potential for success and hope to export their products globally.